[22
February 2024] G.S.R. 125(E)..-In exercise
of the powers conferred by sub-section (1), clause (z) of sub-section (2) of
section 176 of the Electricity Act, 2003 (36 of 2003), the Central Government
hereby makes the following rules, further to amend the Electricity (Rights of
Consumers) Rules, 2020, namely:- (1)
These rules may be called the Electricity
(Rights of Consumers) Amendment Rules, 2024. (2)
They shall come into force on the date of
their publication in the Official Gazette. In the Electricity (Rights
of Consumers) rules, 2020 (here in after referred to as the principal rules),
in rule 2, in sub-rule (1),- (i)
after clause (k), the following clause shall
be inserted, namely:- (ka)
"owner" means the person who is having absolute right over the
property and the expression owner includes the legal heirs; (ii)
after clause (mb), the following clause shall
be inserted, namely:- "(mc)
Resident Welfare Association (here in after referred to as the Association)
means an association comprising all the property owners within a Co-operative
Group Housing Society, Multi storied Building, Residential Colony, or a similar
body registered with the State Government." In the principal rules, in
rule 4,- (i)
for sub-rule (11), the following sub-rule
shall be substituted, namely:- "(11)
The Commission shall specify the maximum time period, after submission of
application complete in all respects, not exceeding three days in metropolitan
areas, seven days in other municipal areas and fifteen days in rural areas,
within which the distribution licensee shall provide new connection or modify
an existing connection: Provided that for rural
areas of States and Union Territories having hilly terrain, the maximum time
period for new connection or modification of an existing connection, after
submission of application, complete in all respects, shall not exceed thirty
days: Provided further that where
such supply requires extension of distribution mains, or commissioning of new
substations, the distribution licensee shall supply the electricity to such
premises immediately after such extension or commissioning within a period not
exceeding ninety days. Explanation: For the
purposes of this rule, the term States and Union Territories having hilly
terrain means the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur,
Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura,Uttarakhand,Union Territory of
Jammu & Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh." (ii)
after sub-rule 13, the following sub-rules
shall be inserted, namely:- "(14)
Within the area covered under an Association: (a)
The distribution licensee shall provide
either a single point connection for the Association or individual connections
for each and every owner, on the basis of choice of the majority of the houseor
flat owners in such Association and the choice shall be ascertained by means of
a transparent ballot to be held by the distribution licensee; Provided that if more than
fifty percent of the owners prefer individual connection then individual
connection shall be given to each owner. (b)
(b) the metering, billing, and collection
shall be done separately for (i)
individual electricity consumption sourced
from the distribution licensee; (ii)
individual consumption of back up power
supplied by the Association; and (iii)
electricity consumption for common area of
such Association sourced from the distribution licensee. (c)
In the case of a single point connection, the
Association shall be responsible for metering, billing, and collection and for
individual connections, these responsibilities shall vest with the distribution
licensee. (d)
In the case of a single point connection: (i)
the charges deducted through pre-payment
meters or bills raised by theAssociation for individual electricity consumption
shall be on no-profit-no-loss basis. (ii)
the distribution licensees tariff for single
point connection to Associations shall not exceed the average billing rate for
low tension domestic category. (iii)
the total billing done by Association for the
electricity supplied by the distribution licensee shall not exceed the overall
tariff paid to the distribution licensee. (iv)
an additional amount as prescribed by the
Appropriate Commission may be charged towards the sub-distribution network cost
incurred for providing electricity up to the premises of the individual
consumer." (15)
On the request of an Association or an owner of the flat or house in an
Association or any other consumer, the distribution licensee shall provide a separate
connection for supply of electricity for Electric Vehicle charging system; Explanation.- For the
purposes of this sub-rule, it is clarified that the time line for providing
this connection shall be in accordance with the sub-rule 11 of Rule 4.". In the principal rules, in
rule 5, for sub-rule (7), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely:- "(7)
The testing of meters shall be done by the distribution licensee within thirty
days of receipt of the complaint from the consumer about their meter readings
not being commensurate with his consumption of electricity, stoppage of meter,
damage to the seal, burning or damage of the meter, and the like: Provided that in case of
complaint by a consumer regarding meter reading not being commensurate with his
consumption of electricity, distribution licensee shall install an additional
meter within five days from the date of receipt of the complaint, to verify the
consumption, for a minimum period of three months." In the principal rules, in
rule 11,- (i)
for sub-rule (7), the following sub-rule
shall be substituted, namely:- "(7)
For installation of roof top solar photo voltaic systems, the technical
feasibility study shall be completed within a period of fifteen days and the
outcome of the study shall be intimated to the applicant, failing which it
shall be presumed that the proposal is technically feasible. (7A)
The applications for roof top solar photo voltaic systems upto 10 kW capacity,
complete in all respects shall be deemed to have been accepted without
requiring technical feasibility study and any commensurate enhancement of the
sanctioned load of the consumer, as may be required, shall be carried out by
the distribution licensee."; (ii)
for sub-rule (8), the following sub-rule shall
be substituted, namely:- (8) subject to sub-rule (7A), during the time
period from the feasibility study or deemed acceptance of the application till
the completion of installation, in case, there is any requirement of
upgradation of distribution in frastructure like augmentation of service line,
distribution transformer capacity, and the like for installation of the
required capacity of roof top solar photo voltaic system, the same shall be
carried out by the distribution licensee or consumer, as the case may be: Provided that the cost of
strengthening the distribution infrastructure, including distribution
transformer, as necessary, to facilitate the installation of roof top solar
photovoltaic systemsup to a capacity of 5 kW or a higher capacity as prescribed
by the State Commission, shall be included in the revenue requirement of the
distribution licensee. (iii)
for sub-rule (9), the following sub-rule
shall be substituted, namely:- "(9)
After installation of roof top solar photovoltaic system, the consumer shall
submit the installation certificate to such distribution licensee and such
distribution licensee shall complete signing of connection agreement,
installation of meter and successful commissioning of the roof top solar
photovoltaic system within fifteendays from the date of submission of the
installation certificate. (9A)
The Formats of connection agreement and installation certificate shall be
placed on web-portal of the distribution licensee."Electricity
(Rights of Consumers) Amendment Rules, 2024